Thill-coupling.



No. 653,858. Patented July 17, I900.

G. m. WRIGHT.

.NITED' STATES PATENT OFFIC r GEORGE M. \VRIGHT, OF WINNEOONNE, WISCONSIN.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,858, dated July 17, 1900.

Application filed November 15, 1899. Serial No. 737,083. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winneconne, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thin-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in thill-coupliugs, the object being to provide an antirattling-coupling which is of such construction that when the shaft or pole is raised the pressure of the spring will be reduced to a minimum, so that the position of the coupling-bolt can be readily changed to support the shaft or pole in a raised position, and when the shaft or pole is lowered the maximum amount of springpressure will be exerted to prevent rattling; and with the above object in View the invention consists in the combination of the axleclip, thill-iron, and coupling-bolt, which are so constructed as to serve not only as coupling means, but also as a shaft or pole support in connection with an antirattling-spring, which is carried by the thill-iron, said spring having a part which is concentric with the eye of the thill-iron, as well as a part which is eccentric therewith, so that the maximum amount of pressure is exerted when the shaft or pole is in a position for use, and the minimum pressure is exerted when the shaft or pole is raised, which permits the couplingbolt to be adjusted to hold the shaft or pole elevated, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of an antirattling thillcoupling and shaft or pole support constructed in accordance with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupling-bolt detached. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the antirattlingspring, showing its application to the eye of a thill-iron. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing further modification of the antirattiling-spring.

The axle-clip and thill-iron are of the usual construction, except that one of the jaws of the clip adjacent to the aperture therethrough which receives the bolt has a slot or recess which forms an extension of the opening, and

the eye of the thill-iron has also a recess or slot, said openings being for the passage and reception of a feather a, which is formed on or attached to the coupling-bolt A. The con- 'struction and arrangement of the parts are such that when the feather a of the bolt engages the recess through the jaw of the clip and the slot in the eye of the thill-iron the shaft or pole will be held raised, thus providing a cheap and effective shaft or pole support, and when the thill-iron is lowered the feather will be out of line with the recess b, and thus prevent the removal of the bolt.

My improved antirattling device and wear take-up consists of a spring 0, which has a portion 0 concentric with the eye of the thilliron, and said concentric portion embraces the eye between the jaws of the axle-clip.

From the concentric portion of the spring ex= tends a member or part c, which is eccentric with that part which embraces the eye, and the curvature of the part c is such that the greatest pressure or force is exerted thereby when the parts are assembled and the shaft or pole is in position for use, and when the shaft or pole is raised the pressure is relieved to permit the easy withdrawal of the coupling-bolt.

The antirattling-spring C may be made of a single piece of fiat spring metal, which is shaped to provide a circular or concentric portion a, which embraces the major portion of the thill-eye, and from said part springs a member c, which is eccentric with the circu lar portion and rear ofthe bolt. This eccentric part is adapted to bear against the axle-clip between its jaws. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the antirattling-spring may be made of a single piece. In Fig. 4 the eccentric portion is shown as attached to the concentric part, which embraces the thill-eye. In the con struction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the antirattling-spring is adapted to be applied to the thill-eye by being slipped laterally thereon, and when so applied the walls of the recess will engage with the shank of the chill-iron adjacent to where it springs from the eye.

By the construction shown it will be noted that I provide an antirattling-spring having a circular portion which embraces the major portion of the eye of the thill-iron and is maintained thereon, so that it cannot be displaced without removing the thill-iron from the coupling, also that the portion of the spring which is eccentric to the eye of the thill-iron is only positively connected at one end to the concentric part, so that the other end or part may slide or be susceptible of a movement over or about the concentric part. cannot turn on the eye of the thill-iron, as the shank thereof passes through the space between the ends of the spring.

I claim 1. In a thill-coupling, means for connecting 7 the thill-iron and axle-clip in swinging or'fixed engagement with each other, of a spring which is retained in fixed engagement with the eye of the thill-iron and is concentric therewith, said spring having a portion through which the shank of the thill-iron projects, a part of said spring being eccentric with the thill-eye to engage the clip rear of said eye, the con- The spring figuration of the parts being such that the greatest force will be exerted'by'the eccentric portion of the spring when the thiIl-iron is lowered and the least when it is raised, where'- by, the position of the connecting and supporting means may be readily shifted.

2. An antirattling-springfor thill-couplings comprising a circular portion which is partially cut away or shaped to provide a space in which the shank of the thill-iron may be r inserted and a portion which is eccentric with said circular portion, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. WRIGHT.

iVitnesses:

MATTHEW BECKER, EPA. WILLIAMS. 

